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Ed Banger Records will be releasing 'Still Waters' on the 5th February, following a 4-year stagnancy from studio releases, and a focus on live collaboration.
Thibaut Berland has self-dubbed the funk-outfit as 'Breakbot plus one', since collaborator Irfane has lent much more than just a hand on the second LP, with vocals to accompany almost every track.
In comparison, the album feels a little lacklustre to the 2012 debut album 'By Your Side', which has found its way onto every European summer-pleasing playlist. Whilst 'Still Waters' attempts to revive the Breakbot name, it seems to fail. If anything, that is merely a testament to its predecessor (to compete to the likes of floor-filler 'Baby I'm Yours' is a tough feat!)
Breakbot's weak point has always been combining slick beats with romantic but generic lyrics to accompany. Upon first listen, their style is one to firmly grasp the attention of your ears, soon realising the 2D nature of individual songs such as 'My Toy'. It's all good and well have a sunny album to bop to, but why not accompany that notion with thicker soul, channeling its genre roots and developing personality a little more?
The album has potential, but too many filler tracks do not amount to an album worth noting in the history of reputable disco-funk. Sure, it could flesh out a feel-good playlist for the most part, but making a statement on French disco should be priority, and this does not seem to be reflected in the new LP.
'Arrested' encompasses the quote from Thibaut himself, dubbing the album 'the perfect soundtrack for a last barbecue around a swimming pool.' Although saying this, some of the more off-character tracks justify the album, such as 'Man Without Shadows' with its swirling synth dropping into a more ominous melody than you'd expect. As the album progresses, 'Get Lost' and the eponymous final track save the album at the last hurdle, bringing back the 80s electro-pop feel good funk influence.
A brutally honest summary, and there's no doubt this album is one to add to your summer listening, but we are a long way off that (unless you're reading from Down Under), and there are slight workings that need to be made in order for the duo to pin their name in the neo-funk history pin board. The stellar tracks get lost in a bag of average ones, but all in all is definitely a work worth listening to for you electro-funk fans out there. Oh the sub genre, what are you like?
